Cole County EMS sees increase in calls for service for sixth year in a row

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Cole County EMS responded to more calls in 2025 than the year prior, once again setting a new record.

According to the county's annual report, first responders responded to 14,071 calls in 2025, an increase of 445 calls compared to 2024, when they responded to 13,626 calls. This also marks a 60% increase in calls for service since 2019, when they were only responded to 8,762 calls, and paints an overall trend of an increase in calls for service since 2019, with the exception of 2023, which saw a slight decrease.

"We don't really have any identifiable trends, other than the community is more reliant in our services," EMS Chief Eric Hoy said. "I think the most logical explanation is that Jefferson City is a suburban community with an average age extending more towards that retirement age, and we see them more reliant on emergency services and health care in general."

A break down in calls for service since 2019 is as follows:

• 2019: 8,762
• 2021: 11,912
• 2022: 12,595
• 2023: 12,315
• 2024: 13,626

According to the report, EMS responded to traffic accidents the most out of any other incident, in 2025, responding to 1,022 accidents. That marks a slight increase from 2024, when they responded to 985.

Cardiac arrest calls claimed the second spot for the most calls received at 131 calls, while EMS responded to 29 opioid overdoses and 26 weapons offenses. The report also highlights a slight decrease in the average response time, coming in at 7 minutes and 4 seconds. In 2024, the response time sat at 7 minutes and 19 seconds.

The average on scene time was 19 minutes and 3 seconds. The average transport time was 12 minutes and 10 seconds, marking a significant decrease from the year prior, when the average time sat at 18 minutes and 19 seconds.

EMS' new headquarters could be to thank for that.

The new building-- located on Adams Street in downtown Jefferson City-- opened in November 2024. The county opened up the building to help improve response times in an area where the majority of EMS calls come from.

Hoy said that data shows call volumes were more evenly dispersed among the county's different stations in 2025. Their busiest medic unit-- which is located in the building on Adams Street-- saw a decrease of about 400 calls in 2025, meaning that resources are being spread out and one single station is not getting the overwhelming majority.

"It's been very gratifying to see that because that was one of the main strategic plans with building this facility (the new headquarters) and bringing on the two ambulances that we see here," Hoy said.

The report also states that 98% of 911 calls were answered within 10 seconds and that the county processed 26,738 calls.

Hoy expects EMS will see another increase in calls in 2026, something he said is being seen across the nation.

But how does this impact budgeting? Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman said it doesn't have much of one.

"We have a half cent sales tax that is partially used and then with their calls we are dealing with insurance and Medicare and Medicaid, so it's usually pretty equal so it's not going to impact their budget this year, we should be good," Bushman said.

Hoy also said that the growth in call volume can make it more difficult to be able to accomplish bigger strategic capital items, such as building a new station or buying more ambulances. However, he said they're in a good spot financially and have been able to maintain a high level of service, despite an increase in operating costs.

"I can't say that we wont run into some budget issues at this point, but we do a very good job of being conservative," Hoy said. "For the 2026 budget we anticipated no growth in sales tax based on the current economic factors and we're still able to balance our budget and return cash reserves to an acceptable level, so we don't have any concerns."

Hoy said that they'll also continue constantly monitoring data and performance metrics to ensure they're financially solvent.

According to the report, EMS' total revenue in 2025 was $9,759,512, a slight decrease from 2024, when it was $10,640,297. 59% of that money in 2025 went toward fees for service, also marking a jump from 2024.

Hoy also said that EMS has the staff needed to respond to the increase in calls and that there have not been any instances where they're unable to answer calls due to a lack of staffing. However, there are sometimes instances where call volume exceeds the amount of resources and mutual aid from other agencies is required. That has not created a delay in service, though, Hoy said.

12 students graduated from the EMT program at the headquarters at the end of 2025, something Hoy said has been a huge recruitment and retention tool . Six of them are currently employed with Cole County EMS, according to Hoy.